Talk the Line

a book about language
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Original Air Date: 
November 11, 2007

In biology it's widely accepted, but the study of the evolution of language was once banned by The French Linguistic Institute. In this hour of To The Best Of Our Knowledge, we'll let it develop, and take a look at the story of French as well. Also, composer Stephen Paulus finds music in and around poetry.

Christine Kenneally on the Evolution of Language

To The Best Of Our Knowledge
Audio

Christine Kenneally tells Steve Paulson that Noam Chomsky thought language was hard-wired in the human brain, but later researchers have shown that its development is even more complex.

Stephen Paulus on "Prairie Songs"

To The Best Of Our Knowledge
Audio

Composer Stephen Paulus sits at the piano keyboard and talks with Jim Fleming about how he developed the music for a group of six poems he set for the Festival Choir of Madison.

Julie Barlow on French

To The Best Of Our Knowledge
Audio

The French have a curatorial attitude toward their language, but in fact they add new words all the time.

Jim Ridge on "Dickens in America"

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Jim Ridge performs a one man show called "Dickens in America," which he wrote with his friend Jim DeVita.

Show Details 📻
Guests: 

Christine Kenneally

Academic

Stephen Paulus

Musician

Julie Barlow

Author

Jim Ridge

Actor
Categories: 
Politics and History
Last modified: 
August 02, 2024